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Introduction

Hello and welcome to another weekend morning. We bring you your all-in-one matchday coverage center, highlighting the day's key football action. The Premier League offers fascinating contests featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers and the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with Women's Super League games and FA Cup round two drama completes the lineup. Feel free to send us your views and let us know your plans for watching today's games. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the spotlight even though he was absent in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on manager Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” following omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. He expressed that he felt singled out for blame for the team's disappointing start to the season.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant Premier League development saw Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emi Buendía's winning strike. That result, combined with City's straightforward win over Sunderland, has left a very tight race at the summit of the table.

Away from the English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for Inter Miami as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host West Ham for an 2pm GMT start. West Ham have displayed signs of life under the appointment of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in five games.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup round two provided plenty of drama yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.

Other standout outcomes featured:

• Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham Town before eventually suffering a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's FA Cup schedule features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (early start)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be three distinct battlegroups forming in this campaign's Premier League.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with designs on the top five. Can any put together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to avoid the drop probably concerns several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing especially vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be dragged into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Outside the Premier League and domestic cup, today's fixtures feature:

Women's Top Flight: (All 12pm GMT unless stated)

• Leicester City v Manchester City
• London City Lionesses v Brighton & Hove Albion
• Manchester United v West Ham United
• Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
• Chelsea v Everton (2.30pm GMT)

Around the Continent:

• Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (8pm CET)
• Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim (4.30pm CET)

The Salah Debate Continues

The fallout from the Liverpool forward's explosive interview rages on. There are two clear camps to the debate. Has he done enough to voice his frustration as a true club icon? Or is manager Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?

Views from supporters appears split:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he move on loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned yesterday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later announced the fan passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the pitch unplayable.

There is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.